As highly self-sufficient creatures, cats spend hours taking care of their furs. Your kitty usually won't need much help with maintaining a healthy coat.
However, any health problem will reflect on its quality, including shine and softness, so you should look after it and make it lovely again.
Keep in mind that a healthy but older or overweight kitty may have an issue to reach particular body parts like those around the tail base and groom itself properly.
Plus, inactive pets or those exposed to chemicals won't have nice and attractive fur. Let’s discover what to do to prevent the cat’s coat from becoming dull.
Nutrition
Once a cat's skin becomes dry and its fur dull, the first thing to check is its daily diet. High-quality and balanced food with adequate proteins, carbohydrates, and fats ratio is crucial for your kitty's healthy coat and skin.
On the other hand, the wrong diet, which includes inadequate and poor-quality food without the necessary vitamins and minerals, will cause the problem.
Every cat owner needs to keep in mind that a cat’s diet should change over time according to its age and size.
Keep in mind that felines need more proteins than dogs, so you should pick out the premium brand food to meet all their needs.
If you are a fan of natural feeding, fish consumption will make a miracle and result in a shiny and beautiful cat's coat.
Otherwise, adding some fish oil rich in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to a regular meal will also do the job.
Bathing
When you want to preserve your kitty’s coat, avoid bathing it too often, except when it is extra dirty or sticky. In most cases, these animals don't need additional cleaning, and exposure to shampoos often causes problems with dry and brittle fur.
The rare exceptions are overweight cats and those with underlying health problems that need some help.
One more thing! Never try to solve the dander problem by excessive bathing because its effect won't last more than a few days. A better option is to ask your vet for help and make the necessary changes in your kitty’s life.
Grooming
Whether you have a cat or a dog, grooming is one of the primary ways to keep their coat shiny and healthy. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly maintain your pet's fur, especially the long-haired one.
Regular brushing will remove dirt and dead hair and prevent any knots and tangles. It will help your pet not swallow too much fur and get stuck with the possible hairballs problem.
The best option is to make a process of brushing a comfortable experience in a relaxed atmosphere and prepare some treats as an award. Always use the high-quality brush or double-sided grooming glove to make the procedure pleasant.
My cats also enjoy a cat corner groomer I placed on the hallway wall edge. This useful gadget will make the process of maintaining the coat more comfortable. Plus, you should consider scheduling regular haircuts at the trustworthy groomer when necessary.
Supplements
Adding supplements is unnecessary if you feed your pet with raw meat or high-quality, commercially prepared cat food. However, any problem with sensitive and dry skin will require nutrition improvement.
In such a case, adding daily cat supplements like Evercat full of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids will help your pet keep skin, coat, heart, and eyes healthy.
Plus, it will be wise to include Omega 3 fatty acid supplements, fish oil, and coconut oil in your furry friend's daily diet.
If your kitty has developed an allergy to pollens, food proteins, or house dust mites, you will face an itchy cat. One of the first indicators that something is wrong is its dry and dull coat and skin.
In most cases, solving these conditions will require dietary supplements with appropriate therapy.
Probiotics
Healthy digestion positively affects the appearance of your pet's hair. Therefore, offering probiotics is an excellent option when any problem in absorbing nutrients from food occurs. However, never add these products to your cat's diet without consultations with your vet.
Homemade remedies
Some homemade ingredients are beneficial for your pet's coat, including:
Honey - Add one tablespoon of honey in 17 ounces (0.5 liters) of lukewarm water, apply it over the cat's coat, and let it sit for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. It will help to make the fur resilient, healthy, and shine.
Beer - Apply lukewarm alcohol-free beer over the cat’s coat and rinse it after a few minutes. The result will be astonishing.
Flea control
To keep your pet's coat healthy, you should regularly use one of the veterinary recommended products to control fleas.
These menaces will cause over-grooming and scratching, which will negatively affect fur appearance and your pet’s overall condition.
As a result, you may notice hair loss, skin irritation, and sores.
In the case of a severe flea infestation, you will also need to treat your home to get the full effect of treatment.
Never offer flea products intended for dogs to the cat since they can be toxic or even fatal for your kitty.
Check your furry friend for possible allergies, skin infections, and parasites when noticing that its skin is dry and the coat looks dull and damaged.
Conclusion
Maintaining the pet coat is a crucial hygienic habit of making fur shiny and healthy. Providing high-quality food and necessary supplements, regular grooming, moderate bathing, and flea control is everything you need to do.
It is not too much if you keep in mind how much pleasure and benefits such a little effort can bring.
Jovanka Panic
My name is Jovanka Panic. I am a writer, translator, veterinarian, humanitarian, and passionate traveler. After playing with white bears and elephants in the Belgrade ZOO and dealing with the Rabies virus in the Institute Pasteur, I enjoy writing.
My five beasts are my ultimate love, including three cats (Clementine, Josephine, and Sophia) and their 'mom' American Stafford Terrier (Malena).